2021 WBIF - Lower St. Croix Watershed Partners
The Lower St. Croix (LSC) Partnership will implement projects and practices in order to achieve a cumulative phosphorus reduction of 915 lb/yr to priority waterbodies identified in Table 5-2 and Table 5-3 of the LSC Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (CWMP). Projects and practices will include structural agricultural BMPs, structural urban BMPs, non-structural ag and urban BMPs, and wetland restorations. The number of practices/BMPs implemented will be dependent on progress toward measurable outcomes such as phosphorus and total suspended solids load reductions. In order to implement the agricultural practices, the LSC Partnership will hire or contract with an Agronomy Outreach Specialist, who will be a certified agronomist. The LSC Partnership will also hire or contract with a part-time basin-wide Educator who will supplement/help to expand the East Metro Water Resources Education Program. LSC partners will perform targeting analyses in order to target the most cost-effective practices. It will also perform internal phosphorus loading analyses on lakes identified in Table 5-4 of the LSC CWMP.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(a) $13,591,000 the first year and $13,375,000 the second year are for performance-based grants with multiyear implementation plans to local government units. The grants may be used to implement projects that protect, enhance, and restore surface water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking water sources. Projects must be identified in a comprehensive watershed plan developed under the One Watershed, One Plan or metropolitan surface water management frameworks or groundwater plans. Grant recipients must identify a nonstate match and may use other legacy funds to supplement projects funded under this paragraph.
Cumulative phosphorus load reduction of 915 lb/yr, as measured at priority waterbodies (Structural Ag BMPs: 300 lb/yr; Non-structural Ag/Urban BMPs: 400 lb/yr; Structural Urban BMPs: 200 lb/yr; Wetland Restorations: 15 lb/yr).
This project funded implementation of structural management practices (stream and ravine stabilization, stormwater management, cattle exclusion), cover crops and conservation tillage, and wetland restorations in the Lower St. Croix Watershed. The work resulted in a reduction of 1,922 pounds per year of phosphorus.
Funds paid for outreach in the watershed via a dedicated conservation agronomist, shared services educator, and in partnership with the East Metro Water Resources Education Program. Funds also covered costs of staff time to develop an enhanced street sweeping program and analyze lakes and subwatersheds to inform future implementation efforts. Most work was done in priority areas and addressed phosphorus, which is a high priority in the Lower St. Croix comprehensive watershed management plan.
Work was completed with a one-year extension to account for staffing changes and to ensure proper vegetation of a stream restoration. The Lower St. Croix Watershed Implementation Partnership reported that over $2,000,000 of non-WBIF funds from local, state, federal, and non-government organization sources were leveraged during the grant period to implement their comprehensive watershed management plan.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS